Local Government in Ancient India c9.108

c9.108

The military guilds had also their own laws. The partnership in plunder is precisely regulated. Where the guild is deputed by the king to plunder an enemy's country, the first charge on the booty secured is the king's share of one-sixth. The remainder is to be divided as follows: the leader of the free-booters is to get four shares, he who has shown special heroism will get three, one specially energetic shall get two, and the other indifferent associates shall share alike (*Bṛh.*, 31. 32). These rules, according to Kātyāyana (explained in the *Vīramitrodaya*), apply where the expedition is sent against, and the plunder secured from, a powerful enemy difficult to be defeated. In the case of a weaker enemy, the king's share is only one-tenth. (Does the king's share depend upon the amount of assistance he himself sends to the guild in its plundering expedition?) The *Vivādaratnākara* (p. 126), however, takes the two cases to be those of remote and neighbouring enemies. In the case of any member of the company being arrested, his release must be procured at the common expense to be shared by members according to their individual contribution to the common fund (ibid).